There are 6 ways to get from Cologne to Rotterdam by train, bus, car, plane, or train (Eurostar)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train
best- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Utrecht Centraaltrain Ice / ...
- Take the train from Utrecht Centraal to Rotterdam Centraaltrain Intercity
3h 18m€30–94Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to Rotterdam Central Stationbus FlixBus 007 / ...
4h 31m€26–43Drive 246.4 km
- Drive from Cologne to Rotterdamcar 246.4 km
2h 45m€46–66Train, fly
- Take the train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafentrain
- Fly from Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)plane DUS - AMS
- Take the train from Schiphol Airport Train Station to Rotterdam Centraaltrain
3h 20m€156–354Train via Brussels
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Miditrain 79
- Take the train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Rotterdam Centraaltrain Thalys
3h 51m€88–219Train via 's-Hertogenbosch
- Take the train from Köln Hbf to 's-Hertogenboschtrain Ice
- Take the train from 's-Hertogenbosch to Rotterdam Blaaktrain Intercity
4h 31m€35–70
Cologne to Rotterdam by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cologne to Rotterdam is to bus which costs €26 - €45 and takes 4h 31m.
The fastest way to get from Cologne to Rotterdam is to drive which takes 2h 45m and costs €45 - €70.
No, there is no direct bus from Cologne to Rotterdam station. However, there are services departing from Köln and arriving at Rotterdam Central Station via Düsseldorf central bus station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h 31m.
No, there is no direct train from Cologne to Rotterdam. However, there are services departing from Köln Hbf and arriving at Rotterdam Centraal via Utrecht Centraal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3h 18m.
The distance between Cologne and Rotterdam is 274 km. The road distance is 246.4 km.
The best way to get from Cologne to Rotterdam without a car is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs €30 - €95.
It takes approximately 3h 18m to get from Cologne to Rotterdam, including transfers.
Cologne to Rotterdam bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from Düsseldorf central bus station.
Cologne to Rotterdam train services, operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), depart from Köln Hbf station.
The best way to get from Cologne to Rotterdam is to train which takes 3h 18m and costs €30 - €95. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €26 - €45 and takes 4h 31m.
What companies run services between Cologne, Germany and Rotterdam, Netherlands?
You can take a train from Köln Hbf to Rotterdam Centraal via Utrecht Centraal in around 3h 18m. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to Rotterdam Central Station twice daily. Tickets cost €19–29 and the journey takes 3h 5m. RegioJet also services this route once daily.
- Website
- klm.com
Flights from Düsseldorf International Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–270
- Phone
- +31 30 751 5155
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Köln Hbf to Utrecht Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €24–50
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Utrecht Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 37 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- €6–12
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Schiphol Airport Train Station to Rotterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 26 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- €5–11
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from Köln Hbf to 's-Hertogenbosch
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €18–35
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
Train from 's-Hertogenbosch to Rotterdam Blaak
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 1m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €17–35
- Website
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)
- Phone
- +49 30 2970
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Utrecht Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 34m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €35–85
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- €9–21
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
Train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 52m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €35–85
- Website
- Deutsche Bahn Intercity (DB IC)
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- Phone
- +49 221 13 999 444
- Website
- National Express
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Schedules at
- National Express
- Phone
- +49 9126 301 90 70
- [email protected]
- Website
- TRI Train Rental GmbH
Train from Koeln Hbf to Duesseldorf Flughafen
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Schedules at
- TRI Train Rental GmbH
- Phone
- +44 (0)3432 186 186
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 52m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €80–140
- Website
- Eurostar
Train from Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi to Rotterdam Centraal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €50–85
- Website
- Eurostar
- Phone
- +32 70 79 79 79
- Website
- Belgian Railways
Train from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles Midi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 54m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €35–60
- Website
- Belgian Railways
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to Rotterdam Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €19–29
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +420 222 222 221
- [email protected]
- Website
- RegioJet
Bus from Düsseldorf central bus station to Rotterdam Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €13–22
- Website
- RegioJet
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Booking & Getting There
Cologne to Rotterdam bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at Rotterdam Central Station.
Cologne to Rotterdam train services, operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), arrive at Utrecht Centraal station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cologne to Rotterdam is 246 km. It takes approximately 2h 45m to drive from Cologne to Rotterdam.
Book your Cologne to Rotterdam train tickets online with Omio.
Book your Cologne to Rotterdam bus tickets online with Omio.
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